Elevator and conveyer



April 24, 1934.

R. A. BROWNING, SR

ELEVATOR AND CONVEYER Filed June 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l rill w 1114 fi l [me Eusszu 4 Beamvnva 5. B a! Jaw ATme/vzy April 24, 1934- R. A. BROWNING. SR 1,956,312

ELEVATOR AND CONVEYER Filed June 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5055541. 4 Know/mm 512.

B Wila HrTae/YEK Patented Apr. 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE Claims.

My invention relates generally to improvements in elevators and conveyers and more particularly to means for connecting, supporting and operating the carriers or containers of such struc- 5 tures.

Elevators and conveyers of the kind herein referred to and as employed for hoisting and carrying packages, raw materials and the like comprise a plurality of spaced carriers or containers mounted on an endless flexible band, belt or chain, and trained over suitable spaced driving and supporting pulleys or sprockets. Such structures have a number of disadvantages in use chief of which is the fact that should the supporting belt or band become broken the entire band, be-

ing of one piece construction, falls from the pulleys and requires considerable time and labor for replacement, particularly in the case of bucket elevators which are generally enclosed in a confining casing. With this fact in view it is the main object of my invention to provide a simple, eflicient and novel form of supporting band or belt for the carriers or containers made up of a number of separate detachable sections whereby the operation of repairing, replacing or adjusting the band is greatly facilitated.

Another object is to provide a band or belt of this kind made up of a number of links, stretches or lengths of suitable flexible material such as rope, V-belting or the like connected at their ends directly to the carriers or containers or to the supporting plates therefor.

Another object is to provide a novel and efficient assembly of sectional band and driving pulleys in which the pulleys have spaced toothed rings or gears and the carriers or containers are supported on suitably formed plates interposed between and connected by sections of the band and adapted to ride the peripheral faces of the. pulleys, the said plates having suitable projections, crimps or lugs adapted to engage the teeth of said gears on the pulleys to afford a positive and non-slipping drive.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially broken away and in section, showing a bucket type elevator incorporating my invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of one pulley alone. Figure 3 is an inside or rear elevation of one bucket and associated parts.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the margin or rim of a pulley showing a bucket and associated supporting elements in plan and cross section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental section through a pulley showing a bucket and modified form of supporting element therefor.

Figure 6 is a face or front view of a pulley, sectional band and bucket supporting plate on the scale of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side view of one end of a flexible link or belt section showing a suitable form of snap fastener for attaching to a bucket orsupporting element.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a carrier suitable for use in a drag conveyer, package elevator or conveyer or similar structure showing my sectional band assembly attached thereto.

In carrying out the embodiment of my inven-. tion represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings I provide two pulleys designated generally at 10 and 11 and hereinafter referred to as head and foot pulleys according to their relative positions and in accordance with conventional terminology in this art. Each pulley has suitable spokes 12 and hubs 13 by which they are mounted on shafts 14, the head pulley 10 being keyed to its shaft as at 15 for driving the elevator. A plurality of toothed rings or ring gears 16 are mounted around the peripheries of the pulleys and arranged in spaced relationship thereon from side to side as shown in Figure 2 and between these rings the pulleys have peripheral grooves 17 of suitable shape and size according to the belt employed. As here shown four toothed rings are employed on each pulley, one adjacent each side and the others equally spaced therebetween, and the grooves 17, three in each pulley, are centrally located between these rings, but it is understood that any other suitable number or arrangement of these elements may be used as desired. Alsothe elements 16 are shown and referred to as rings secured around the periphery of the pulleys but they may be formed integrally therewith if found practicable in manufacture. However constructed and arranged the toothed rings 16 project beyond the faces of the pulleys and the grooves 17 are cut into these faces as shown.

The flexible band or belt designated generally at 18 and trained over these pulleys l0 and 11 in accordance with my invention is made up of a number of separate sections each of which comprises a plurality of links, or lengths 19, of wire rope, vebelting or other suitable material and in number equal to the number of grooves 1'7 in the pulleys. So made up the sections of the belt may be connected at their adjacent ends to any desired form of conveyer or elevator carrier or conveyer and the whole assembly trained over the pulleys and operated in usual manner. Preferably, however, the carriers and containers whatever they may be are secured to supporting elements, carriers or hangers as shown at 20 which are themselves connected or interposed between sections of the band. These hangers are each made up of a plurality of straps or bars 21 equal in number to the number of the links 19 employed and each shaped and formed so that its ends 22 are oliset from its central portion 23 by legs 24 whereby said ends may ride the peripheries of the pulleys between the rings 16 while the central portions 23 stand out from the pulleys to a dis tance beyond the plane of the said rings. The series of straps 21 making up each hanger 20 are secured together in proper spacing and alignment to fall between the rings 16 by means of cross pieces 25 riveted at 26 to the inner faces of the said central portions 23. As one practical example of form for these cross pieces 25 they may be made up of T-section material with a relatively short and centrally located web 25a on its side. The size of the cross pieces 25 is such that they extend endwise a substantial distance beyond and laterally from the outermost straps 21 and are at least equal in length to the overall width of the pulleys 10 and 11. The elevator buckets A or other conventional carriers or containers are secured to the outer side elements 20 by the same rivets 26 holding the cross 25 to the straps 21.

The ends of the links 19 are secured in' the tubular shanks 28 of conventional snap fasteners 29 (best shown in Figure 7) which include the hooked ends 30 having sliding closure pieces 31 adapted to close the gap 32 and yieldably held in this position by springs 33.

In making up an elevator assembly constructed as above the desired number of buckets and hangers are connected by links 19 which are attached at their ends by the snap fasteners 29 hooked through apertures 34 in the ends 22 of the straps 21 as shown. These links 19 may, of course, be of any suitable length and the overall length of the band 10 as well as the distance between buckets determined by choosing the proper length for the links. As the bucket assemblies travel over and around the pulleys 10 and 11 the links 19 enter the grooves 17 therein while the webs 25a of the cross pieces 25 mesh with the teeth of the rings 16 and provide a positive non-slipping drive as will be readily apparent. To facilitate this action of the webs 25a they may be rounded as shown but it is apparent also that in lieu of the T cross section of the cross piece, a simple angle, half round bar or other form may be used. The offset formed in the straps 21 by the legs 24 is just such that these webs 25a ride the rings 16 nicely while the ends 22 ride the peripheries of the pulleys and a smooth running and mechanically strong assembly results. As one of the numerous advantages of my construction and aside from its adaptability to changes and repair it will be noted that should a breakage occur in the assembly the whole will not fall from the pulleys as will the usual continuous belt or band but only that part below and on the side of the break. Repair is thus greatly facilitated and replacement of worn or defective sections may be readily accomplished.

,In lieu of the hanger assembly of a plurality of straps 21 as described an alternative conpieces struction as shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be employed. In this embodiment the pulleys as hereinbefore described have any desired number of peripheral grooves 17a but only two ring gears 16a are provided on each pulley and these are located at the margins of the pulleys leaving the intervening space clear. The hangers designated generally at 20a are each made of a single generally rectangular stamping, plate or casting 35 formed and shaped to substantially arcuate cross section whereby its ends or end margins 36 may ride the peripheries of the pulleys while its outwardly curved or bowed central portion 37 will stand out from and clear the pulleys a substantial distance. The corners of the plate 35 are cut away as shown at 38 whereby the remaining relatively narrow side extensions 39 thus formed may extend laterally fully across the pulleys while the ends 36 fall between the ring gears 16a against-the face of the pulleys as described. The plate is then crimped or folded medially and from side to side to form an inwardly extended crimp or angle 40 preferably V-shaped in cross section and if desired a central part of the plate substantially the width of the ends 36 may be cut out as shown at 41. The buckets A or other carriers are secured to the plates by rivets 26a through the outwardly bowed portions 37 of said plates. The belt or band section links 19a are strung between the bucket and hanger assemblies thus formed by engaging the snap fasteners 290. with apertures 34a in the ends 36 of the plates and the flexible assembly thus formed is trained over the pulleys and operated exactly as hereinbefore described in which operation the links 19a ride the grooves 17a while the crimps 40 mesh with the teeth in the ring gears 16a for positive driving. The invention as so far described and shown in the drawings referred to is applied to bucket elevators but it is understood that the same construction is adapted for use in elevators and conveyers of any type or form as for instance drag conveyers, flight, apron or pan conveyers, ditch digging and dirt conveying machinery, freight and package elevators or conveyers, dumb waiters and the like. In any case the same advantages in construction, maintenance and operation obtain. As an example of the application to drag conveyers, package elevators and such Figure 8 shows a carrier made up of a back plate 42 and outwardly extended drag fin or support 43, the former having apertures 34b at its ends by which the links 19b may be attached. So constructed the elevator or conveyer may be used on simple grooved pulleys or a suitable rib, teeth or crimp (not shown) corresponding to the hereinbefore described elements 250. and 40 may be provided on the back plate 42 to engage suitable ring gears on the pulleys if desired.

Also if desired or found best in practice each hanger 20 or 20a may have more than one rib 2511 or crimp 40 spaced apart a distance suitable to the pitch of the ring gears 16 or 16a as will be understood. Furthermore, the number and arrangement of links 19, ring gears 16, the material of the links 19 and other such details of construction are subject to considerable variation in practice and such changes are considered within the scope of the present invention.

While I have herein set forth certain preferred and practical embodiments of my invention it .is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details so as best to construct a practical device for the purpose intended,

not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an elevator and conveyer struoture,,

pulleys having spaced grooves around their peripheries, toothed rings on the pulleys adjacent the grooves, a plurality of carrier hangers, spaced flexible links connected between the carrier hangers and adapted to run in the grooves in the pulleys, and means on the carrier hangers to engage the toothed rings on the pulleys.

2. In an elevator and conveyer structure, pulleys having laterally spaced grooves cut in their peripheries, toothed rings mounted around the pulleys adjacent the said grooves, a plurality of carrier hangers including feet adapted to ride the peripheries of the pulleys between the said toothed rings and having offset central portions adapted to stand out from the peripheries of the pulleys, means on the said central portions of the hangers to mesh with the toothed rings, and a plurality of spaced lengths of flexible material connected between the ends of adjacent hangers and adapted to run in the grooves in the pulleys.

3. In an elevator and conveyer structure, pulleys having laterally spaced grooves in their peripheries, toothed rings around the pulleys alongside the said grooves and projecting radially from the peripheries of the pulleys, a sectional band trained around the pulleys and made up of laterally spaced flexible links running in the said grooves, carrier hangers on the said band and interposed between sections thereof, the central portions of said carrier hangers being outwardly bowed and standing out from the peripheries of the pulleys, and inwardly extended projections on said outwardly bowed portions of the hangers adapted to mesh with the said toothed rings.

4. In an elevator and conveyer structure, a pulley having laterally spaced peripheral grooves, ring gears around the pulley alongside and between the said grooves, a carrier hanger made up of a plurality of laterally spaced straps adapted to ride the pulley between the ring gears, and a cross piece secured to the straps and having a projection adapted to mesh with the said ring gears.

5. In an elevator and conveyer structure, a pulley having laterally spaced peripheral grooves,

ring gears around the lateral margins of the pulleys, a carrier hanger comprising a plate adapted to ride the pulley between the ring gears, the said plate being outwardly bowed at its center and having relatively narrow lateral extensions crimped inwardly to form projections adapted to mesh with the said ring gears.

RUSSELL A. BROWNING, SR. 

